Bobby Holik was born into Communism in the former Czechoslovakia 37 years ago. As a youth he would watch intently as his father and grandfather engaged in political debates, but the budding young hockey star could only dream that he would ever actually be able to cast a vote in a democratic election.

Bryce Salvador was born in Brandon, Manitoba, 32 years ago. He felt secure about growing up in a democracy but didn't follow politics much. However, when he seemed headed for a career in the NHL and a home in the United States, he thought becoming an American citizen might be a wise career move.

The process took eight years. But it wasn't until he and his wife April were sworn in as U.S. citizens in St. Louis on July 11 that he fully understood what it meant.

"Quite honestly, until we actually had the ceremony, it just kind of seemed more like a professional decision," Salvador said. "Growing up in Canada, it kind of seemed that Canada and the United States were the same thing. You're able to work down here and pretty much live in the same type of cultures.

"Then, going through the ceremony there were 57 other people from all over the world. Some of those people were crying and their families were able to come over and start working. You kind of take a step back and realize, 'Wow, this is a big deal.' It was kind of an eye-opening experience. Things you kind of take for granted, some of those privileges, a lot of people spend their whole lives and fight and die just to share that dream."

People like Holik, his teammate on the Devils.

Next Tuesday, Salvador and his wife will do what Holik has been doing since becoming an American citizen 12 years ago: Vote in a American election. It is a responsibility they are taking seriously.

The Salvadors say they are independents, but will probably vote for Barack Obama.

"We're leaning a little more towards Barack just because he has a chance of implementing what he's saying," Salvador explained. "Whether or not you are for what he's saying, it has a chance of happening.

"I probably side with a lot more of John McCain's stance on issues, but I just know he's not going to be able to pass them. He's going to have to cross party lines for almost everything he wants to do. The polls are showing Barack has a pretty big lead, but I'd normally think we're more Republican than Democrat."

If Salvador is the slightest bit undecided, Holik is not. He is a registered Republican and feels McCain is the better of the two candidates.

"I don't vote for John McCain. I vote for conservative values, and he's closest to what I believe," Holik said. "One of the things I think is hurting this country is belonging to a party and simply voting that way. I saw what belonging to a party can do. It scares me because it gets out of control.

"You'll never agree with anybody on all the issues. It's all about what values you embrace and that's why I'll vote for John McCain this time around. I cannot vote for Obama and his, 'We have to take a little more from the haves and give a little more to the have-nots.' I've lived through that. My family was abused by that policy."

Holik, who became a U.S. citizen on Nov. 4, 1996, in Newark, is proud and passionate.

Although he could have retained dual citizenship, he gave up his Czech Republic passport. Holik and ex-teammate Scott Gomez have long had good-natured sparring sessions. Gomez jokingly says Holik obtained a cereal-box passport by sending away for it. Holik counters by saying he is a better American than the Alaska-born Gomez.

"I read a book which said being an American is not carrying a passport," Holik explained. "It's embracing the values of the country. So I think I was American before I even got the passport, because I've embraced this country for what it is.

"I always say I'm a citizen by choice, which are the best ones we have. I embrace this country for all the good and all the bad. It's not perfect, but I'm not going to be a fair-weather citizen only when things are going well or when we are popular in the world. No. Even when we're unpopular I admit I'm an American and I voluntarily became a citizen."

While Holik has followed American politics for years and is a voracious reader of history, Salvador has only been tuned in for a few years.

"American politics is quite the show," Salvador said. "It's a really important election the way everything is going with the economy and the war. My wife and I are excited about it. It's going to be really interesting."

For Holik, every election is riveting.

"I've cared about politics for as long as I can remember," he said. "Maybe since I was 6 or 7 years old. My dad and grandfather always had debates or arguments.

"My dad was the son of a small business owner whose butcher shop in 1948 was taken by communists. They were thrown on the street. My grandfather was a member of the Communist party since 1948 because he grew up prior to that without a father or family in the 1920s and 1930s. He was a peasant, so the communists gave him a chance to better his life. Those are the kind of people they target. Any dictator. It's like a religion. They target people whom they give hope."

Holik recalls his grandfather reading the newspaper cover to cover every day, circling items with a pen he kept in his pocket. Though his politics differ greatly, the grandson is much the same.

"I'm a conservative, which to me is fiscal responsibility and small government," Holik said. "That's John McCain. I say to people who look at the last eight years: John McCain is not the last eight years."